A number of months ago I made our headlines available as an RSS channel; this is a follow-up to that. If you are interested in having TheOneRing.net's headlines on your site or portal, you can find the RSS source for our headlines at http://www.theonering.net/cgi-bin/lotr2rdf.cgi.

Now the last time I posted this, a number of people said, "Ok now what do I do with that?" At the time, I pointed them to a number of different packages which dealt with RSS channels and left it at that. Since that time I have written and modified a couple of short scripts which makes use of our RSS information. If you are interested in being able to put our headlines on your site, or want our headlines in your WindowMaker menus, drop me an email at corvar@theonering.net and I will give you a hand.

New topic up and ready: supporting characters of LotR. Who's your favorite? Why do you choose this specific character? For the purposes of our chat, we'll define 'main characters' as the Nine Walkers: Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Aragorn, Gandalf, Boromir, Gimli, and Legolas. Any and all other characters are fair game as 'supporting characters,' although opinions may differ on this definition of terms.

Look up a juicy quote or two, or be ready to share with us your impressions and thoughts about your pick. Is there a particular deed or scene that comes to mind? So who's it gonna be? Hama? Ioreth? Prince Imrahil? Ghan-buri-Ghan?

It's been an exciting time for observers on Mt. Ruapehu, and we got a wonderful report from a fan who got to watch a lot of the big scenes filmed up there. Check it out in our latest Spy Reports [ more ]

According to the New Zealand Herald, casting director Liz Mullane has called for more extras to play mainly Elves and Uruk Hai. "Mullane, fresh from accompanying the films' huge cast at a shoot on Mt. Ruapehu, has been back on the streets of Wellington looking out for talent." The film requires more Elves - "tall and slim, very beautiful and stylish, 5ft 10 and over;" and "Soldier types" (for the Uruks, we presume) who should be "good, fit sorts of build, 5ft 9 and over." Both men and women were wanted, though men were preferred for the soldiers. No hobbits were required at this stage.Hopefuls are invited to present themselves at the NZ Dance and Drama centre in Wellington between llam and 3pm this Saturday and Sunday. Ms. Mullane warned that this might be the last opportunity for extras.

LOTR was mentioned twice in the new June issue of Computer Gaming World. The first mention is on page 40 "There are only two times we get excited by elves: when mentioned in the same breath as madman Peter Jackson's upcoming film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, and when they're not presented as the usual pointy eared pansies that AD&D has molded them to be." [More]

Cate Blanchett (Galadriel) was recently spotted at a photo shoot for 'Vanity Fair' in Hollywood, TheOneRing.net Spy Cuthalion managed to square off a few tender moments with our lovely Elven Queen to talk LOTR, this is what Cuthalion reports:

(Cate) is PERFECT! When you are in the room with her, its like she's glowing. Her voice is perfect, her face is ageless. We are in luck.

Also, Cate hasn't even had time to read the books in her busy schedule. She is listening to them on tape.

A direct quote, on her role as Galadriel, "I hope I do it justice!" She says Peter Jackson is an amazing director. She had some preliminary pics from Alan Lee with her but was unable to retrieve them. She will start filming in a month. She is perfect and queenly! She is a stunning woman. We as Tolkien fans should be honored.

She says elves will have general english accents, but with a welsh-ish sound, like tapping R's as such. Cate hasn't seen the internet preview, so I gave her lordoftherings.net. She hopes to download the internet trailer. That's all! We are blessed!

A little report on how PJ is using his body doubles, and how it's not all CGI 'Shrinking' that's going on down in NZ, plus the names of a few of these 'Body Doubles' you'll never see anywhere else! [More]

The latest newsletter is away! Do you want to receive our weekly newsletter? Packed with tons of info to keep you up to date on the latest? Plus filled with exclusives from time to time? Join the list of more than 1600 mailing list Ringers! Sign up now! [More]

"We were supposed to be on Mount Doom, it is hot with lava flowing, so the snow wasn't really appropriate." - "Lord of the Rings" producer Barrie M. Osborne after an unexpected snowfall on Mt Ruapehu in the central North Island disrupted filming.'

I was just reading about the new IMAX production opening in many theatres across the country (Canada, and maybe the US too, for all I know) this Friday (May 5th, 2000), replacing Fantasia 2000. It is called 'Journey of Man' with 'Cirque du Soleil' and guess who is narrating it - LOTR's own Sir Ian McKellen! (Gandalf) When DOES that man sleep? Sounds like it should be fantastic...